Edward C. Pickering papers

Edward Charles Pickering, 1846-1919, was a physicist and astronomer. He earned an B.S.degree in 1865, from the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard, then joined the first instructing staff of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1866 as an assistant instructor in physics. At MIT he was then assistant professor of physics, 1867-1868, and Thayer Professor of Physics, 1868-1877. From 1875 to 1877, he was also director and organizer of the Rogers Laboratory,the first laboratory for instruction in physics in the United States, a project initially proposed by MIT's founder, William Barton Rogers, in his "Scope and Plan" for the Institute.

Edward Pickering was involved in many scientific activities, including expeditions to observe total sun eclipses. A complete description of his professional work can be found in the National Academy of Sciences, Biographical Memoirs. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences at age 27.

In February 1877 Pickering moved to Harvard as the director of the Harvard College Astronomical Laboratory. His research included photometric investigations of the magnitude of stars, visual, photovisual, and photographic. Just before his death he completed the cataloging of every known star, about 220,000 stars, classified with special reference to their physical qualities as determined by their spectra.

Edward Pickering was a founding member of the Appalachian Mountain Club in 1876, serving as its first president in 1877.

"Biographical Memoir of Edward Charles Pickering, 1846-1919", by Solon I. Bailey, National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoirs, Volume 15, 1932. The memoir includes a bibliography of Edward Pickering's scientific works (pages 179-189).